Student Visa For Ireland

Education System:  education at all levels in Ireland is free at all levels for Irish nationals and resident of the European Union. This also includes university education. This benefit, however, is not applicable to international students. Entry into undergraduate courses (ordinary and honours degree courses) is generally done through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Prospective students apply through the CAO rather than individually to each university. In Ireland, the autumn intake begins in September and the spring intake begins in February. Some universities may accept students throughout the year.
Popular Student Destinations: Trinity College, National College of Ireland, University College Dublin, Griffith College, National University of Ireland Galway, Waterford Institute of Technology, IBAT College Dublin, Maynooth University, Cork Institute of Technology, and Dublin City University are the top universities in Ireland, in no particular order. The majority of the best colleges in the country are located in major cities such as Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. Popular courses for international students in Ireland include language and literature, business studies, medical courses, nursing, and social sciences.
Safety in Ireland: Traveling across Ireland is not at all risky. The most dangerous threat you may encounter is pickpockets who may just steal your bag, which is a problem anyplace in the world. Aside from that, people of other countries descent are safe in the country, as “racist-hate” crimes are not common.
Weather: The Atlantic Ocean has a strong influence on Ireland’s climate, therefore warm ocean currents keep temperatures mild. The average temperature in the spring and summer (May to July) is between 64°F and 68°F (17°C and 20°C). The temperatures vary from 57°F and 64°F (13°C and 17°C) during the autumn season (August to October), with September being a mild month with a sunny and warm atmosphere. The temperature in winter (November to March beginning) reaches 46°F (7.78°C), with January and February being the coldest months. Snow is uncommon in Ireland, with the exception of a few cold days.
Foreigners living in Ireland: Cities such as Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Athlone are home to a sizable population.
Accommodation:
You must first decide whether you wish to live in university-managed accommodation or with a private landlord. Choosing university-managed accommodation can also provide you with a catered or self-catered option. Catered accommodation provides the convenience of having your meals prepared for you as well as a degree of certainty regarding meal expenses. If you know what you prefer, the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you what options are available, so that’s where you should start. If you choose to rent from a private landlord or if your preferred university does not have any available housing, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private houses and landlords in the area. Wherever you choose to live, make sure you understand your contractual rights and responsibilities. In most circumstances, you will be requested to sign a tenancy agreement, which you should carefully read before signing.
Orientation
Orientation week is required for international students, so make sure you arrive early. This is where you will be introduced to the university and its amenities, as well as enroll for classes. It is important that you study the guidebook provided by the college. Each step of the admissions process is explained in the guide.
Activities:
Along with sports, institutions have extracurricular activities that provide students with a variety of experiences. Music, drama, science, and literary societies are offered in all colleges, and there will be opportunities for outdoor education and other leisure activities. College life includes visits to theatres and concerts, as well as destinations relevant to the subjects of study such as art galleries and museums, religious centres or historical sites, scientific companies and projects are all part of college life.
Requirements:
A minimum academic score of 60% or higher in Standard XII is required for each course. Students with a GPA of roughly 50% can apply for Foundations and Diploma programs. Before beginning a degree program, the student must be 18 years old. It is important to remember that even though entry requirement is lower at Irish universities, the education standard is not. As a result, you should carefully prepare yourself to cope with the high grade of schooling during the following few years.

The documents to be submitted are:

• Academic Transcripts: Mark Sheets of Standard X, XII, and the bachelor’s degree (if applicable)
• Internet-based TOEFL or IELTS scores
• If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation (LOR) from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Academic Resume
• Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses or architecture programs)
• Others (Certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
• Proof of funds
• Health insurance
• A copy of your passport

Photocopies of these documents should be translated in English and certified by the educational institution or by notary.

Admission Process:

Irish institutions accept applications for undergraduate programmes through the Central Applications Office (CAO), an online enrolment system. You must create an account on the CAO website to provide basic information, scan your papers, submit a TOEFL/IELTS score, and pay application fees.

This account will keep you updated on the application process and its stages.

Application Fee: When applying to colleges, you must pay an application fee, the amount of which varies based on the college and course being applied to, therefore check with specific universities about their application fee.
Steps: The common steps to applying for admission are as follows:

• Search for colleges and courses
• Contact schools and visit websites for information
• Narrow down your list of schools
• Take the language exams like TOEFL or IELTS
• Write Statement of Purpose, and ask for Letters of Recommendation
• Register at Central Applications Office
• Apply to the colleges which fit your interests
• Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted you (if applicable)
• If accepted, apply for Study Visa

Statement of Purpose: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and explains why you are applying to a specific college. It should highlight why you are an ideal fit for the college and why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should also reflect your personality.

Essay: a prospective student is also required to be submitted college essays.  A prospective student is also needed to submit college essays. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required one or two essays, as well as a few optional essays too. Career goals, strengths and limitations, abilities, experiences, and reasons for picking a particular institution are all common topics.

LOR: A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the prospective student’s qualities, characteristics, and skills in order to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a specific activity or role. A third party could be a professor, a direct manager, or someone else.

Intake Seasons: The autumn intake in September is the main enrolment season for Irish universities. Some universities also admit students for January sessions.

Language Exams: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are standardized language tests that are necessary for college admission. Both tests have distinct formats, structures, and result bands. These examinations differ in many ways, but many institutions require a score from either of the two. As a result, it is up to the student to determine which exam to take.

Repetition of Exams: IELTS can be taken as many times as you like. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as necessary, but no more than once in a 12-day period. You must wait for your results before scheduling your next test.

Exam Fee: These exams cost Rs. 14,000 for IELTS and Rs. 13,531 for TOEFL (approximately).

The cost of living depends mostly on the part of Ireland you choose to live in along with the factor of how much you socialise. The currency of Ireland is Euro. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in Ireland are:

• Accommodation rent (on-campus or off-campus)
• Groceries and food
• Utilities like power, water, internet, etc.
• Phone bills
• Text and reference books
• Airfare for traveling back

Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:

• Dinning out
• Travel and vacation
• Car rent and car insurance
• Cable TV connection

School Expenses:

The average tuition costs for attending college in Ireland vary depending on the institution, the course, and the city in which the school is located. The average rates for tuition vary from about €10,500 and €30,000 per year. This amount varies and is based on a number of factors. For EU residents, there is no tuition fee and the entire education is free; nevertheless, international students are expected to cover their course fees. International students might also look into the various financial assistance and scholarships that are available to them.

Living Expenses

On average, an international student needs approximately €600 to €1000 per month in Ireland. Prices differ a lot in the big cities and small towns all across Ireland, with Dublin being the most expensive city to live in.

Source: Dublin Institute of Technology Cost of Living Guide 2022/23

Kindly note, the rates above are subject to change and applicants should check the official website before planning their expenses. 

Medical Insurance

All international students must obtain at least a basic policy covering emergency medical expenses, according to the Irish immigration service. When applying for a student visa, proof of insurance is required. Meeting the medical insurance requirements laid down by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) will most likely be available through your college. Many colleges provide a group medical insurance plan that is significantly less expensive. The annual premium for this policy is likely to cost between €500 and €1000.

Student Eligibility Criteria: The first thing is to be aware of whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are:

• You should be an foreigner
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical, or other courses of study, most banks maintain that the selected course should be job-oriented
• You must have secured admission to a foreign university/institution
• You need to be 18 or above 18 years of age to avail the loan, else your parents can avail the loan

Course Eligibility Criteria: Educational loan is not available for every course offered abroad.

The following courses are eligible for the education loan:

• Graduation: Job-oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities
• Post-Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS, or even Diplomas

Loan Amount: 

If your total fee is US $12,144.99, the bank may offer you a loan for 80% of the amount, with you contributing the remaining 20%. This is known as the margin amount. The bank’s maximum loan amount for studying abroad is generally around US $24,289.98. If your tuition fees is total US $36,434.97, you will be responsible for managing the remaining money on your own. Some financial institutions charge a processing fee, while others do not. It could be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total loan amount. So, if the bank charges you 1% as a processing fee, that is an additional cost you will have to cover.

Documentation Required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You would also need to show the mark sheet from your most recent qualifying exams to demonstrate your academic record. Each bank has different documentation requirements, so you must first confirm with the bank.

Repayment: Repayment begins only after the course period. If the student gets employed within one year of finishing the course, repayment should begin immediately after the one-month from the date of employment.

If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If a student is unable to complete the course within the scheduled time for completion, he may be granted an extension of up to two years. In most cases, you will have up to ten years to repay the loan.

Conditions
To study in Ireland, you will need a study visa. Remember that you must have at least €7000 in your bank account at the time of application for the study visa. This amount covers an international student’s living expenses in Ireland for one academic year. In addition to the course fee, you must be able to demonstrate that you or your parents/sponsor will be able to give at least €7000 for each year of your study.

Process
To apply for a study visa, you’ll need to:

• Pay your first tuition fee instalment to the University
• Prepare your documents and their copies. (See below for a list of required documents for the visa)
• Submit the online application
• Pay the application fee of €60

You should provide the following documents for the study visa:

• A recent passport sized photograph
• Letter of acceptance from a recognized Irish university confirming that you have been accepted for a full-time course.
• Scores of either IELTS or TOEFL
• Proof of payment of tuition fees
• Bank statement as proof of enough funds (€7000) required to cover the cost of living for the first year of stay in Ireland.
• Evidence that you or your parents/sponsor have access to at least €7000 for the following years of study as living costs.
• Private medical insurance papers

Work permit
Students who are enrolled in a full-time course and have a GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) registration card can work 20 hours per week part-time. International students are allowed to work full-time for up to 40 hours per week during two standardized periods. The periods are December 15th to January 15th and May 1st to August 31st. These dates correspond to the traditional summer and winter holidays. Keep in mind that these dates are fixed for all international students, regardless of the actual teaching calendar for their course.

Visa for spouse
Non-EU international students studying in Ireland generally do not have the right to bring their families with them. Spouses and children of international students may apply to live in Ireland separately, but not on the basis of their relationship to a student. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Authority (INIS) might consider an exemption from this policy in appropriate instances. For example, if a student is pursuing Ph.D. studies (Level 10) and must complete their doctorate within four years, their partners and children may be allowed to join them.

• Book airline tickets
• Buy travel and health insurance
• Arrange accommodation in Ireland
• Arrange transportation to/from the airport to home in Ireland
• Check baggage and customs limitations
• Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution

Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store in your baggage and keep at home, including:

• Passport
• Airline tickets
• Travel insurance certificate
• Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution
• Key addresses and phone numbers
• A bank statement showing proof of funds
• Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
• Traveler’s cheques—if applicable
• Medical and immunization records
• Academic history and university transcripts

Homesickness: Most students will experience homesickness at some point in their lives. It could happen at the start of your first year or afterwards. Be patient; homesickness will pass. If you are upset, talk about it with your friends and share your feelings. If you hide in your room, your homesickness will only worsen. Find a counsellor on staff with whom you can discuss homesickness or other issues. Frequent and protracted phone calls home may aggravate homesickness. Most homesick students feel much more homesick after receiving a phone call from home than they did before picking up the phone. Try to limit yourself to one call home every week. The sooner you integrate into the university experience, the sooner you will get over your homesickness.

Learning basic cooking: You will save money by cooking for yourself. In Ireland, Asian food is expensive. It will also satisfy your urge to eat “your food” during moments of cultural shock .Asian spices are not widely available in smaller towns, although there are often shops on campus where you may acquire items required in most Asian dishes.  In Ireland, the most popular and easily accessible supermarkets are Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Supervalu, Aldi, and Lidl, etc

Transportation:

In large cities like Dublin, public transportation is very expensive. A one-month student bus pass will cost you around €105 on average. That is why most people, including senior professors, go by bicycle. A good bike will cost €120 – €160, or you can hire one on a monthly basis.

Placements: Most universities have career counsellors and programs to help you enhance your soft skills and find work. Irish institutions do not follow to the concept of ‘campus placements’ as it is understood in India. Students find jobs on their own; college only prepares you for the job. The majority of Irish study programs include a trainee-ship or internship.

Work visa
A person who qualifies for the ‘Third Level Graduate Scheme’ (qualification level 8 or higher) will be awarded a 12-month extension, starting on the day they get their exam results. After that you will have to apply for a work visa under the ‘Work Permit Scheme’. This scheme is for non-EU citizens in situations where there may be labour shortages. A work visa is first granted for up to two years and is then renewed.